The American journal of medicine
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Interactive Tutorial
Developing Optimized Treatment Plans for Patients with Dyslipidemia in the Era of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitor Therapeutics.
This educational content was derived from a live satellite symposium at the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine Meeting 2017 in San Diego, California (online at http://courses.elseviercme.com/acp/702e). This activity will focus on optimized treatment plans for patients with dyslipidemia in the era of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor therapeutics. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol has been identified as an important therapeutic target to prevent the progression of atherosclerotic disease; however, only 1 of every 3 adults with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol has the condition under control. Expert faculty on this panel will discuss the science of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors and aid physicians in the best practices to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol target in their patients.
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Multicenter Study
Usefulness of D-Dimer Testing in Predicting Recurrence in Elderly Patients with Unprovoked Venous Thromboembolism.
Whether post-anticoagulation D-dimer levels are useful in predicting recurrence in elderly patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism is unknown. ⋯ D-dimer testing alone may not be useful in identifying elderly patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism who are at low risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism and in whom anticoagulants may be safely stopped.
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Mindfulness practice, where an individual maintains openness, patience, and acceptance while focusing attention on a situation in a nonjudgmental way, can improve symptoms of anxiety, burnout, and depression. The practice is relevant for health care providers; however, the time commitment is a barrier to practice. For this reason, brief mindfulness interventions (eg, ≤ 4 hours) are being introduced. ⋯ Nine of 14 studies reported positive changes in levels of stress, anxiety, mindfulness, resiliency, and burnout symptoms. No studies found an effect on provider behavior. Brief mindfulness interventions may be effective in improving provider well-being; however, larger studies are needed to assess an impact on clinical care.
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Within 30 days of hospital discharge to a skilled nursing facility, older adults are at high risk for death, re-hospitalization, and high-cost health care. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a novel videoconference program called Extension for Community Health Outcomes-Care Transitions (ECHO-CT) that connects an interdisciplinary hospital-based team with clinicians at skilled nursing facilities reduces patient mortality, hospital readmission, skilled nursing facility length of stay, and 30-day health care costs. ⋯ Patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities participating in the ECHO-CT program had shorter lengths of stay, lower 30-day rehospitalization rates, and lower 30-day health care costs compared with those in matched skilled nursing facilities delivering usual care. ECHO-CT may improve patient transitions to postacute care at lower overall cost.
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Comparative Study
Obesity, Diabetes, and Acute Coronary Syndrome: Differences Between Asians and Whites.
Most diabetes and cardiovascular studies have been conducted in white patients, with data being extrapolated to other population groups. ⋯ Although Asians with diabetes and acute coronary syndrome are less likely to be obese than their white counterparts, their risk for death or recurrent ischemic events was not lower.